Good Morning! It’s finally Friday. Come out tonight and bowl with local journalists and celebrities raising money for a good cause. The Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists is hosting the annual CAABJ Bowling with Journalists and Celebs (Scholarship Fundraiser). For more information about this event and others, see our full Qcity Events listing. To add an event, email events@qcitymetro.com.

Hopefully the rain won’t dampen your weekend plans. The weatherman is calling for another round of thunderstorms today and tomorrow. Today, expect isolated thunderstorms developing this afternoon. It will be warm with a high near 85°.

Here’s what is brewing in the news this morning:

Bill James fires off again

County Commissioner Bill James made it clear how he feels about the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board’s plan to ask the county for $352.3 million in funding for next fiscal year.

WSOCTV reported that after the board voted to increase Superintendent Peter Gorman’s initial funding request by $50 million, James fired off an email blasting the decision. In the email, he directly targets CMS board member Tim Morgan, who he said was the swing vote in the decision.

James writes: “The school board voted to ask for $50 million with the District 6 Republican Tim Morgan (brother of Charlotte Chamber head honcho Bob Morgan) casting the deciding vote for this tsunami of a tax increase.”

James claims that if the county grants CMS the full amount, it would increase taxes for at least 144,000 county residents.

“It makes me wonder why the Republican from District 6 (which already will have the MOST tax increases in the whole county) would vote to make the matter worse for those in his district when almost all of the money raised by giving CMS $50 million more would benefit people in other districts,” wrote James.

The school board has said the extra $50 million will go towards preserving the Bright Beginning pre-kindergarten program and save more teacher jobs, particularly in high poverty areas.

James said those are “all good qualities but in the end I think it is because the Chamber wants the increase.

“Ultimately, Mecklenburg County citizens can not afford what Tim Morgan, the CMS school board majority and the power elite in Charlotte are dishing out,” he wrote.

His email also contained a message for voters. “If you sit on your hands next week at the public hearing (19th) don't be surprised if your property taxes go up 50 percent."

Tonight, Gorman is scheduled to present a budget proposal to County Manager Harry Jones.

The board of county commissioners will hold a public hearing about the county’s budget on Thursday, May 19 at 6 p.m. Click here to sign up and speak or call (704) 336-2086 before May 18.

To read a complete copy of James’ email and CMS board member Trent Merchant’s response, go to WSOCTV.com

*** This is your chance to speak out. Use the comment section below to tell us what's brewing on your mind this morning. 

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